Senator Marco Rubio:

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) today issued the following statement after voting against the so-called deal to avert the fiscal cliff by imposing job-killing taxes and failing to solve America's long term debt problem:“I appreciate all the hard work that went into avoiding the so-called 'fiscal cliff'. I especially commend Senator McConnell's efforts to make the best out of a bad situation. Nevertheless, I cannot support the arrangement they have arrived at. Rapid economic growth and spending reforms are the only way out of the real fiscal cliff our nation is facing. But rapid economic growth and job creation will be made more difficult under the deal reached here in Washington.“Thousands of small businesses, not just the wealthy, will now be forced to decide how they'll pay this new tax and, chances are, they'll do it by firing employees, cutting back their hours and benefits, or postponing the new hire they were looking to make. And to make matters worse, it does nothing to bring our dangerous debt under control.“Of course, many Americans will be relieved in the short term that their taxes won't go up. However in the long run, they will be hurt when employers pass on to them one of the largest tax hikes in decades. Furthermore, this deal just postpones the inevitable, the need to solve our growing debt crisis and help the 23 million Americans who can't find the work they need.”

Congressman Paul Ryan:

“We’ll never get our debt under control unless we tackle its main drivers: too little economic growth and too much spending. Without presidential leadership, it will be difficult to forge bipartisan solutions to our debt and economic challenges.“Today, I joined my colleagues in the House to protect as many Americans as possible from a tax increase. We also provided certainty by making the lower tax rates permanent. The House has already passed legislation to prevent tax increases for every American family, and it is unfortunate that President Obama insisted on taking more from hardworking taxpayers. Despite my concerns with other provisions in the bill, I commend my colleagues for limiting the damage as much as possible.“The American people chose divided government. As elected officials, we have a duty to apply our principles to the realities of governing. And we must exercise prudence. We must weigh the benefits and the costs of action—and of inaction. In H.R. 8, there are clearly provisions that I oppose. But the question remains: Will the American people be better off if this law passes relative to the alternative? In the final analysis, the answer is undoubtedly yes. I came to Congress to make tough decisions—not to run away from them.“Now, we must return our attention to the real problem: out-of-control spending. Washington’s reckless spending drives the debt. And this debt is hurting the economy today. Unless we get at the heart of the problem, Americans will face a debt crisis—one that will threaten our most vulnerable in particular. It is our responsibility to prevent such a crisis.”

Congresswoman Michele Bachmann:

(Washington, D.C.) Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (MN-06) released the following statement after tonight's vote on the Senate’s fiscal cliff plan:

“I was hoping we would reach an agreement to avert the fiscal cliff that cuts spending and incentivizes job creation. In the midst of the worst economic recovery since the Great Depression, America is at a moment that requires big solutions to big problems. Instead, Washington politicians have engineered a last minute backroom deal that does not address America's jobs and debt crisis.

“Rather than a deficit reduction plan, the Senate sent us a grow government plan. I cannot support a plan that has billions in tax increases with no meaningful cuts in spending. It's time to solve problems rather than delay them.

“The answer to a $16 trillion national debt and 23 million Americans struggling to find work is not raising taxes to prop up more big government spending. We simply cannot demand more money from hard working Americans without changing the way Washington spends money. Small business owners and entrepreneurs will now be faced with new tax increases that will stifle job creation and economic growth. Combined with the burdensome Obamacare tax increases that just went into effect, it’s a recipe for an anemic recovery in 2013.

“For the sake of our children and grandchildren’s future, we must reject job-killing deficit spending and come together to find solutions that will reduce spending and lead to a positive economic turnaround.”